Author's Note
This is a cancelled story I've been sitting on for litterly two years. I've finally given up on it and decided to release it on here. Just a note, there will be errors, there will be not great sentances, there will be alot of stuff out of place. You have been warned.
I probably wont be continuing this story unless its commissioned or this story gets some attention.
Also just a note, this story was veiwable for years on patreon in my scraps folder.
How worlds change
An alicorn with a midnight black coat leaned heavily on the stone statue of herself that stood far more regally then the alicorn herself was. The real alicorn pushed against the granite statue, her broken and hole ridden armor screeching against the unyielding stone. Her hoarse and ragged breathing the only sound other than the wind. Wounds barely held together with what meager first aid and magic she allowed began to unwind. Pins and needles erupted from a deep scratch along her barrel that had been held together with nothing more than a large bandage and a little hope. With a wet slap the bandage landed against the ground and instantly the mare could feel a fresh surge of blood escape the cut. She winced and willed herself to stand once more on shaky hooves without the statue’s aid.
She could do nothing about the newest wound without first shedding her armor, which was not something she could do without help as the heavily enchanted steel was meant to offer near impenetrable and complete protection and needed to be done and undone by an attendant. Too bad that nigh impenetrability was not enough to withstand the attack of an angry centaur juiced up on more magic then the even the queen of the night held within her godlike body.
Her armor had suffered numerous dents and scratches but had held up for the most part, save for the small holes scattered across the entirety of her body. Tiny bits of metal and debris still stuck in her flesh where the medics couldn't reach. Worse yet was her face as the armor was relatively thin in order to offer a wide view of the battle and unobstructed spell casting. The enchantments had been torn away and there was a scant few inches of the metal still holding the helmet together. Hastily she tossed what remained of the helmet aside where it clattered noisily across the rocks outside of her personal abode then just as quickly worked a spell across her ravaged face that she was glad she could not see. She knew the illusion spell well enough to be able to cast it without having to even see her face. She had used it for years after all, and even the small glow of magic and concentration she had to hold onto wouldn't be noticeable save for the most cautious observer.
The exertion of even that light illusion spell made her have to take a deep steadying breath before she summoned her magic and opened the twin doors to her private tower atop Canter mountain. The doors opened easily, their well greased hinges allowing the portals to swing open soundlessly. The light howl of wind that seemed to permeate her private retreat vanished as it could not pierce the enchantments barring the cold from her home. Had it not been for the bell that rang when the doors were opened her entrance would have been a stealthy one. Until of course she made it inside and firmly latched the door behind her, then she collapsed onto her front knees, her armor clattering against the stone floor. Willing herself to not fall to the ground like some sort of weak foal the nightmare summoned what was left of her strength and push. She grunted with the effort of standing and pulled a few more ragged breaths into her burning lungs before casting her eyes about the room she was in.
The entryway itself was a grand affair, the roof rising easily 15 feet allowing the proud display of twin banners of the moon on either side of the singular hallway that led deeper into her private abode. Two chairs sat next to each other behind her near the door on one side and small armor rack on the other. The alicorn considered putting the helmet on it's proper place on the rack but dismissed it as work for her pets. Though the cold hardly bothered her she had no desire to go back outside and find the damnable thing. Though now that she thought of her pets… she looked down the hall half expecting to see her servants running to her side. She was mildly disappointed that she hadn't heard the telltale clip clop of their hooves yet but that changed within moments.
Suddenly she heard four distinct sets of hooves clopping down the hall. A panicked voice echoed down the long hall. “Come on Cadence! Mistress shouldn't have to wait a moment longer.”
The labored breaths of a different pony echoed down the hall before her voice followed. “Hold on Twilight I'm heavy with our mistresses’ child do you want me to slip?”
The frantic clatter of hooves slowed slightly, drawing a thin smile to the queen’s lips. They were just too adorable sometimes. She forced herself to stand regally once more, unwilling to let her service mares to see her in such a weakened state. Though painful, the sharp jabs of pain that returned the moment she was standing was a far cry from what she had felt in the past. She mused at all the long battles she had fought in since her return from the moon, if they could even be called battles at all. She snorted in amusement at the thought, what weak foals these new ponies were, so ready to serve.
Unwilling to wait for her pets to arrive the queen took it upon herself to use what little magic she had left and began to release the few bits of armor she could reach by herself. Metal clattered to the floor and was tossed aside half hazardly, revealing more battle scars and fresh wounds alike. The smell of blood once faint now dominated the entryway. A gasp drew the alicorn’s attention from freeing the last bit of armor she could reach from her long leathery wings.
“Mistress please wait, allow us to help you with that.” The voice that called out was identical to the first, female but with a slight otherworldly vibration akin to the dark alicorn’s own voice.
“Please Mistress listen to Twilight, do not strain yourself my love, we can help.” This voice lacked the same otherworldly tone to it, and instead it was honey sweet and dripping with concern.
The alicorn reluctantly let go of the strap she had been tugging at and allowed her gaze to turn to the two mares running down the last leg of the hallway. They ran in lockstep, the chains binding them together hardly affected their gait as their otherworldly coordination made the burden of being bound together so closely virtually non existent.
The one to the left was slightly smaller, her wings not quite developed and her horn not quite as long as a mature alicorn. Her purple coat was marred somewhat by long swirls of black that criss crossed her body seemingly at random. However, anypony who studied those strange seemingly random swirls of darkness long enough would know they made an elaborate design that would go unnoticed save for the most observant of ponies. This design would enhance her physical strength and make her completely under the thrall of nightmare moon, not that the mare knew this of course. To her they were simply a gift from her beloved mistress and a way to increase her usually feeble physical strength. Other than the swirls of black that interlaced throughout her coat her wings were also the same leathery black as her mistress and her eyes mirrored the same slit like look more common in dragons. Her tail was the same blue with shocks of magenta and pink running through it as it was in her youth however it was cut quite short and bound tightly with a black cloth, ensuring she could never lower it or obscure the view of anypony behind her. Her mane was cut similarly short and was done up into a simple bun, keeping it out of the mare’s eyes. Lipstick dyed her lips a deep, almost black purple color which matched her eyeshadow and lashes. On her flanks where her cutie mark should be were two brands, images of the nightmare’s own cutie mark seared into her flesh. Marking her as mistress Moon’s private property and thus under her protection. On her hooves was further evidence of this ownership as her two left hooves were bound in heavy irons with chains that reached out and connected her to a similar set bound to the hooves of the mare she ran beside.
The mare bound to the corrupted alicorn’s right was taller, her horn and wings having reached full maturity years ago. She wore similar make up that was lighter than her counterparts so as to not clash with her lighter coat and coloration. In addition she had identical brands upon her flanks and the same type of heavy cloth bound her short tail, the only things that were different about her from her counterpart was the bulging stomach that marked her as an expectant mother, as well as the necklace that shook on her neck. The thin silver necklace held a simple image of a moon, which glowed with a light of it's own, giving off a faint aura of moonlight whenever it caught a stray moonbeam through the stained glass windows that flanked either side of the hall. From the way she perpetually pushed her chest forward it was evident she was immensely proud of the seemingly simple medallion. Another small difference was that her mane was slightly longer than her counterpart’s and was brushed to immaculate perfection, just the way her mistress liked, up and out of the way but with a few falling strands that added a hint of mystery. Her usually pristine and beautiful face bore the same expression her sister in chains had, deep concern only with a little less of the outright panic the purple mare exuded.
The armored alicorn smiled at all the work she had done on these two mares. When she had found them Twilight was easily bent to her will and though cadance took some finesse they were now the perfect slaves. She would have continued to admire her pets except a wave of pain coming from the cut along her side nearly made her buckle under the agony. The two mares gasped in unison and ran the last few feet in order to reach the object of their devotion before she could fall. The alicorn felt a smaller form crouch under her right side and gently push her back up into a standing position all the while a faint teal aura got to work discarding the armor she could not reach, starting with the last bits still on her delicate batlike wings.
The alicorn allowed some of her weight to be shifted against the fuzzy purple mass propping her up. The other mare grunted under the sudden effort and the nightmare allowed herself a wry smile. Her pet had gotten tougher, but she was still far too weak. Still… a slightly pudgy Twilight was a wonderful thought that sent of a surge of blood to the nightmare’s unmentionables. She shook the thought away and focused her own internal magic into working on the worst of her wounds that had come undone since she had shook off those annoying so called doctors and retreated to her private tower.
“-Mistress please, tell us how we can help.” Twilight’s voice was filled with desperation and the nightmare realized she must have been lost in her own thoughts for longer then she realized. Maybe all that blood loss was starting to get to me. She thought with a hint of amusement.
“You can get the last of this armor off me while Cadance tends to my wounds, I know she is more skilled in healing magic then you.” The nightmare’s tone brooked no argument nor could she ever see one arising regardless.
“Yes mistress.” Both mares responded in unison, nodding once and moving on to their assigned tasks.
Twilight’s precise mastery of levitation made short work of the bent and broken metal and the armor came off of the Night Queen, each piece being placed upon its appropriate spot on the armor rack instead of being tossed aside carelessly. All the while the teal light of Cadance’s magic scanned the queen’s body up and down from her midnight black tail that was little more than a short and stubby version of it's former beauty, to her mane which suffered a similar fate. The queen could already tell this was going to be an issue with her pet as her love of her mistresses’ elegant aetherial hair was well known to the alicorn. She would have laughed at the thought had the air not been tense and the distant sound of conversation not drawn her from her reverie once more. At the edge of her mind she could hear the faint whispers of her slave’s thoughts begin to bubble up.
“What do we do Cadance what do we do mistress is hurt and I-” This voice, or thought was nervous in the extreme and was instantly recognizable as Twilight’s thoughts.
“Hush Twilight, follow our mistresses’ commands and I'm sure everything will be fine. We will follow every order to the letter and if she wanted something she would give us new orders.” These thoughts were far more calm however the night queen could tell they still carried the intense worry of their counterparts, merely leveraging an equal amount of confidence.
“But what about the void stones! Did they work? Where did she go? How badly is she hurt? Was Tirek defeated?” The Night Queen could tell that those thoughts were beginning to spill out of control and apparently so did Cadance as her thoughts quickly rose in volume in order to drown out Twilight’s
“Those are all questions for our mistress. I can only guess at her injuries as the smallest scan I did revealed plenty of damage however nothing life threatening. Our mistress wont even suffer a single scar that might mar her perfect coat if we have anything to say about it, isn't that right Twilight?” There was something left unsaid in Cadance’s thoughts but the dark alicorn ignored it as it was probably something to do with how ravaged her mane and tail were.
“Right!” Shouted back Twilight’s thoughts.
The nightmare could feel the renewed concentration of her pet as the teal aura intensified and formed into a more advanced healing spell meant to regrow tissue naturally instead of merely closing the flesh by warping the skin around it. The being once called Luna grimaced slightly, but made sure her service mares didn't see it, no point in breaking their concentration and potentially harming her perfect body by letting them see her suffer.
Twilight’s nervous shuffling drew the nightmare’s attention however the instant her gaze fell across her slave, Twilight withered, bowing her head submissively on impulse. “What is it Twilight?” The nightmare hissed, not having the patience for the skittish alicorn.
The purple alicorn shivered in fear but quickly spoke up. “I was just wondering if the void stones worked.” Then in a much smaller voice barely above a whisper. “Did my plan fail?”
The nightmare snorted dismissively. “Your plan worked perfectly, unfortunately some foal allowed a break in the cordon before the spell was complete, allowing that…” She spat on the ground in disgust. “Animal, a few choice shots off before being destroyed. Thankfully I was there to ensure that nothing came of that little glitch in the plan.”
The purple alicorn turned her head to Cadance who merely looked from her to their mistress and motioned to continue. “Go on dear, I must concentrate, I cannot speak for you this time.”
Twilight gulped but continued. “How badly are you injured? How might I serve you mistress?” She bowed her head once more and stared at the ground until her mistress spoke.
The nightmare basked in her unadulterated admiration a second while she thought of a use for the skittish alicorn. Her train of thought was derailed somewhat when she felt something shift inside of her right leg.
Cadance quickly began apologizing the moment she felt distress from her mistress. “I'm terribly sorry, mistress the muscle was damaged I had to regrow the majority of it.”
The nightmare gave the mare a harsh glare but the other alicorn did not back down though her thoughts betrayed her. “Did I do the right thing Twilight? I didn't hurt her did I, oh stars above I should not have done that. I swear if I bucked up that healing spell I'm going to give myself the lashings I deserve before mistress has a chance.”
Despite Cadance’s overwhelming urge to grovel and beg for forgiveness her desire to heal the object of her undying love outweighed that urge ten fold. Instead of groveling at the hooves of her mistress she merely renewed her focus, despite the nightmare’s glare. After a few long seconds the midnight blue alicorn let out a breath. “Warn me next time.”
“Of course mistress.” Cadence answered instantly, without hesitation.
The nightmare stood quietly, waiting for her pet to finish healing her and spending those quiet moments listening to Twilight and Cadance’s nervous and frantic telepathic conversation. The pain she felt laced across her body and face were dull and distant. She forced the agony from her mind in order to listen in on the private conversation.
Back and forth the two mares went, both panicking and trying to figure out how best to serve their silent mistress. Meanwhile the nightmare merely basked like a snake in the sun, soaking up their fear and loyalty. She inwardly congratulated herself on breaking them so utterly that even when they believed themselves in complete privacy did they not dare to air a word of dissent. Not a single thought in their minds were of revenge, or getting back what they had lost during their coup against Celestia. Why would they? They had been instrumental in overthrowing Celestia after all. Now that had been a perfect day…
The image of her sister being banished to the sun, her standing triumphant, without the illusion she had worn for several long years. Her eyes cast down as her forces overthrew the last vestiges of the already weakened solar guard. All the while her concubines serviced her sexually atop the highest spire in canterlot, the entire city witness to the breaking of the only princesses not locked within the sun. All the while the streets void of fighting reveled with the sound of uncontested debauchery and wanton celebration. Words of encouragement and congratulations wafting up from the crowd as they were liberated from Tia’s so called tyranny.
The nightmare shook her head, discarding the alluring thought of that day from her mind as she noticed the faint glow of Cadance’s magic flicker and disappear. Her service mares looked from each other to the floor, their heads bowed in submission while waiting for further orders.
“She is healed as best as I can manage for now, I pray she allows me to further inspect her perfect form for I fear there may be more work to be done.” This thought was clearly Cadance, out of the two of them she was the only one who could exude confidence and worry without being succumbed by the latter.
“What do you mean Cadence? Is mistress still hurt?”
“Yes, but I'm afraid that I am going to need to be allowed to touch her and I'm not sure she has the patience to allow me such an honor quite yet.” There was a longing that Night Queen had grown to expect from her lighter colored pet.
Hearing the silent conversation had died down between the two mares, the nightmare smiled before starting off down the long hallway into her private tower. Leaving her service mares to fall in behind her, their eyes turned towards the floor lest they get an unprompted view of their mistress, though Twilight and Cadance both admitted they were tempted to steal a peak despite the punishment they would receive for such an act of insubordination.
This longing was partly due to the week long absence from their mistress which was mostly spent researching and trying not to think about how pent up the two of them had become. The Night Queen chuckled inwardly to herself and let her tail swish from side to side, revealing herself to the pair behind her had they just looked up.
Now free from the looks of her service mares Mistress Moon allowed her smile to grow more and more genuine until the intense pang of pain that erupted when broken face turned in a way it shouldn't. Pain was fleeting and the nightmare queen ignored it as her thoughts strayed to how nicely they had come along over the past years. Indeed they both seemed to have fallen perfectly into their place under her hoof and in her bed. She had originally doubted placing them together like this as she felt that rebellion would only fester if they had each other to talk to but the opposite seemed to have been true. Their loyalty and desire to please their mistress seemed to feed from each other, only growing in the absence of their mistress.
Unfortunately she could not afford to keep patting herself on the back for her accomplishments for she remembered the affairs of state that she had ignored while she was out killing a centaur. “How has Chryssy’s diplomat been?”
“That insufferable witch…” Twilight’s thoughts were filled with an unusual amount of venom for the usually skittish and shy mare.
“Of course dear, her and her ilk are insufferable, I wish mistress would simply destroy those foul creatures. However she has let them live and we are not one to judge her decisions” The venom in Cadance’s voice was much less unusual and not for the first time the Night Queen wondered if her plan to utilize the changelings was a sound one, but she quickly dismissed the thought as irrelevant, she could not change the past.
Mistress Moon mused at the private conversation she was listening to, but Twilight’s actual voice broke those thoughts.
“She has been difficult, and has taken to playing pranks on the staff of the castle and…” The nightmare heard Twilight stutter for the right word before giving up and letting Cadance finish her thought.
“She has been impersonating you again mistress.”
“Now that is a problem.” The nightmare sighed heavily, growing wearier everyday this ‘peace’ with the changelings stood. “That is a matter I will have to settle at a later time, so long as she is not killing my ponies or causing damage than I care not what she does. For right now I have two slaves I intend on enjoying to the fullest.”
Twilight blushed and Cadance barely hid a moan which made Twilight’s blush double in size. All the while the nightmare merely smiled wolfishly despite her still present injuries. Silently enjoying thoughts of what she would do to her pets right after she wasn't covered in blood and shrapnel or maybe before… hmm. She shook the thoughts from her head once more, reminding herself there was one other matter to attend before she could enjoy a quiet evening with her pets.
While they walked the stain glass windows that adorned the hall from entryway to the tower displayed various scenes of importance. From images of discord's defeat at the hooves of Twilight with a small nightmare in the corner, to her hoof holding aloft a black pearl to a bowing buffalo prostrated before a smiling Twilight and her five friends. On and on the windows went, displaying various scenes of importance that had come about since the nightmare’s return from the moon. Still more windows went on, empty and waiting for the newest crisis to be solved before being chronicled.
“Any other news I should be aware of? My herald was acting particularly twitchy when I got back and I had no patience for his usual cowardice,” the nightmare stated with a frown of disgust.
“Oh umm, lord Sombra has sent another shipment of... Slaves as well as…” Twilight gagged and was apparently unable to continue, thankfully Cadance was a little less shameless than her counterpart.
“More of his so called poetry. Some asinine drivel about how much he appreciates your night. The gal of that mortal to to…” Then Cadence did something she hadn't done in a long time, snort in anger. Twilight gasped, unsure of what to say, half tempted to apologize to their mistress on Cadance’s behalf.
The nightmare however just laughed, a deep rumbling laugh that made her service mares stop in place. The instant they did their mistress turned around and asked them. “Maybe I should entertain the mortal, he does seem to have quite the infatuation with my night. As well as plenty of power I could use, maybe a diplomatic marriage would unite another empire under my rule?”
Twilight’s mood instantly fell and she looked down at the ground forlornly, her ears pinned to her head. Cadence on the other hoof looked like she was ready to explode in anger, a fact not lost on her mistress.
“Am I not allowed to marry him? What do you say, my pets?” The blue alicorn grinned slyly and walked a little closer to her slaves.
Cadence however didn't back down but did glance at Twilight, a flurry of telepathic communication going back and forth, however her mistress wanted to press her teasing before Twilight could give Cadance a well meaning but purposefully vague response as usual.
“Speak your mind pet, now.” The command made Cadance’s head shoot forward and before she could stop herself she spoke.
“He is unworthy of you, we are as well of course, but him moreso. The thought of some petty mortal placing his hooves on your body makes me want to-to I don't know, explode!” The alicorn looked like she was about to do just that as her breathing had grown ragged and her nervous stepping from hoof to hoof became more and more like stomping as time went on.
Twilight blanched and the look of terror on her face was priceless. “Not that she's telling you what you can or can't do mistress it's just-”
Her mistress fixed Twilight with a stern look that made her comment die in her throat. “She does have a point Twilight, the only reason you are allowed into my bed is due to the spark of divinity you hold and I would not dirty myself with such… Base creatures.” That seemed to calm Cadance somewhat. “Nevermind the fact that everything is red on black with him, how juvenile can you get?”
She spun around and faced forward, allowing her service mares the pleasure of giggling to each other as the nightmare shared in their mirth. All the while she marveled at how utterly Cadance had devoted herself to her, especially after how in love she had been with Shining. Though now that she thought about it Mistress Moon was a goddess so it was only logical that the love Cadance felt for her would eclipse the love she could hold for a mortal pony. Eclipse, heh. The nightmare cracked a rare, truly genuine smile at the thought before turning the corner to hall containing her private bath. The smile falling away as a renewed jolt of pain rippled through her jaw.
The ornate door leading into the bath was large enough to allow a minotaur passage without having to bend down and was covered in a large painting of females of many different races bathing together. Although there were… other things occurring in the painting Twilight tried not to look at it or think too much on why her mistress enjoyed such shameless displays, all the while Cadance was imagining her mistress taking her in such a public place in such graphic detail it made Twilight blush.
Her service mares were quick to follow their mistress and were on her heels the instant Twilight was able to get Cadance to stop imaging those dirty thoughts of hers. The bath itself was easily large enough for a small family to live in relative comfort and contained several small baths and one very large bath in the center of the room. The sight of which drew a slight gasp from the night queen which made her mares smile.
There the usually empty pool was filled to the brim with hot soapy water. Though it was called a bath it was roughly large enough for 5 fully mature alicorns to bathe in comfort at the same time so not calling it a swimming pool seemed wrong in Twilight’s mind. The nightmare spun around, a sly grin on her lips.
“Did you?” The earnest grins of her mare’s answered the night queen’s question before she could give it voice.
“We thought you would be home soon and would like a bath so we took turns keeping it warm to ensure it was the perfect temperature for your arrival.” Twilight’s proud smile gave way as some of her shyness seemed to creep in. “Would you like us to… bathe you mistress or would you like some privacy?”
“What Twilight means to say is: Would you give us the honor of bathing you, my mistress.” Cadance bowed her head slightly but even then her mistress could see the proud grin on her face.
The nightmare held up a hoof, bringing her service mares to attention. “There is one last thing I was hoping to ask you before I answer that. What has been the reception to my name change?”
“Well…” Twilight looked over to Cadence while shuffling awkwardly.
“Do you think we should ask her now?” Twilight asked.
“If not now then when?” Cadance answered.
Twilight coughed and scratched her ear with a hoof. “Err about that mistress we were wondering why you changed your name in the first place.” She shared a look with Cadance, a slight nod passing between them before they both dropped to the floor, sinking into a deep bow low enough for their chins to touch the ground.
In unison they spoke, their voices filled with reverence. “Nightmare Moon is the goddess we fell in love with and you have always been mistress Moon to us.”
The nightmare’s grin grew wickedly large as she looked down on her bowing pets. Originally she was going to give them some empty answer or no answer at all but their prostrating had made her rethink that. “I am a new mare, Nightmare Moon was filled with anger and hate but I have come to appreciate that there is more to life. As such I felt a new name would fit me better and allow the peasants to see me more as a ruler and less as the conqueror some still see.” Her smile shriveled under the unusual display of emotion. “Why, do you not like Midnight Moon?”
Instantly her mares shot up, both speaking over the other. “Of course not mistress/I love it mistress.” Midnight wasn't sure which said what but it hardly mattered.
Exchanging a quick look Twilight nodded to Cadance, urging her to speak first. “We were merely curious, it doesn't matter what name you choose you are our mistress first after all.”
That drew a heat to the nightmare’s face and below her tail in equal measure, Cadence always did have a way of turning her on.
“We meant no disrespect, after all the only thing we will ever call you is mistress.” Twilight’s grin faded and she quickly added. “Unless you say otherwise, of course.”
Midnight Moon felt something hitch in her throat. “You two are by far my most prized possessions.” She felt a sense of panic suddenly fill her body but the two blushes and bowed heads made it worth the uncharacteristic show of emotion.
In unison her pets echoed back. “We love you Mistress Moon.”
The nightmare cleared her any nervousness and her throat before continuing. “Now then, I think you earned the reward that Cadance all but begged for.”
Midnight Moon stepped into the bath, her lithe black legs striding through the small mountains of bubbles. Once up to her barrel in the sudsy water she turned to look at her mares, a sultry look in her eye. One mare was blushing profusely and stuttering for what to say while the other was practically bouncing on her hooves in excitement. Cadance stopped bouncing long enough to ask. “Are we allowed to place our hooves upon you mistress or magic only?”
“You may touch me.” The words were simple but they carried a weight the likes of which would crush a lesser pony.
Cadance nearly shrieked and took off like a shot for the bath, dragging Twilight behind her. The former princess regained her composure quickly and stepped delicately into the water of the bath, sashaying her hips with each step, a lustful look in her eye. Twilight was slightly less graceful as her fumbling attempt to catch up with her more enthusiastic partner made things difficult resulting in her splashing noisily into the bath.
Their mistress didn't seem to notice, her gaze distant, and unfocused, her body rigid and her muscles tense. As if she had something very important in mind. Much to Cadance and Twilight’s chagrin instead of the usual playful smacks and dirty talk the nightmare usually dished out in equal measure, she just stood there silently. Waiting for her service mares to clean the remnants of the battle from her coat.
Cadance and Twilight shared a look, unsure of what to do but a quick nod from Cadance was all it took to reaffirm Twilight. They had a job to do and they would not let their mistress being suddenly distant dissuade that. The length of chain between them wasn't enough that they could wash both sides of their mistress at once so they walked up to her right, levitating over a cloth each before taking it in their hooves and dipping it in the soapy waters all around them. Twilight’s hoof stopped just inches from their mistresses’ coat, drawing Cadance’s attention.
“What is it dear?” Cadance’s calm and motherly thoughts soothing some of Twilight’s worry.
“It's just, she seems distant all of a sudden, did we do something wrong, is this a test? Are we actually allowed to touch her?”
“I… Think she was being serious before, now come on Twilight our mistress gave us an order.”
“Right.” With another quick nod they went to work gently rubbing down their mistress using their hot soapy cloths.
Twilight payed close attention to any blood or dirt, doing a very utilitarian job of cleaning while Cadance did her best to rouse the attention of her mistress. Long light touches along sensitive areas, all pointing towards her most sensitive region. A slight caress down her long, powerful legs… And still she didn't move, her eyes glassy as she faced forward.
No matter how Cadance touched and caressed the silky perfect coat of her mistress, nothing seemed to rouse her from her concentration. All the while Cadance was becoming more and more aroused, the sleek and powerful muscles hidden beneath the lithe form of her goddess made a shudder run through Cadance’s spine. Memories of quiet moments in which she was allowed the pleasure of running her hooves all over her love’s powerful body making her shudder in anticipation. Which was only added to by the fact that she carried that mare’s foal in her womb right this moment, the only thing that could make it any hotter was the realization was that she would carry many more foals for her mistress after this one. The thought drove her mind into a rut that was difficult to pull out of.
Twilight let out an exhausted sigh, the link between them serving to give her a taste of the arousal Cadance felt. Though she had admit that their mistresses’ powerful muscular body was certainly arousing Twilight was more intrigued by the sense of mystery and power that surrounded the mare at all times. It was alluring in the extreme and images of all the long nights they had spent together, Twilight held in her grasp while she asked endless questions about her mistresses’ centuries long past flooded her mind. Her thoughts turned and the words they exchanged were lost as she remembered how safe and wanted she was when she was in her love’s embrace. A shudder ran down her spine and she silently wished it wouldn't be too much longer before her mistress could put a baby in her belly as her jealousy of Cadance was becoming more obvious by the day.
She pushed those thoughts out of her head and went about the task of picking the shrapnel and debris not picked out of her mistresses’ coat with a gentle touch of magic. Thankfully they were few and far between as Cadance had cleaned out the most damaging of them before however Twilight was surprised to see so many still lodged within the night queen’s coat.
The nightmare just stood stock still, listening intently to her mare’s thoughts while she focused her own internal magic into healing some of the deeper damage to her body and magic. Things she did not trust anypony, not even her mares to tamper with. For there was nothing more frightening to the goddess then anypony glimpsing her true self that she let nopony see. This act stole nearly all of her attention, which only drew more ire from the increasingly needy Cadence.
Who in turn nearly stamped her hoof in disappointment at the realization of just how much attention she was being given, she had hoped to arouse her mistress but all she managed to do was arouse herself. A heat that had burned from the moment she lay eyes on her mistress had become a white hot coal within her that refused to be quenched. She redoubled her efforts, touching and caressing all the ways she remembered her mistress liked and still nothing. She looked over at Twilight who had completed washing every inch she was able to reach from this side and was inspecting her work. Doing her best to make sure her mistress had a pristine and perfect coat devoid of any signs of battle.
A low whine drew Twilight’s attention to Cadence where the sheer disappointment in her eyes made Twilight nearly giggle, it was true she too was turned on by her mistress's’ presence but it didn't consume her quite like it did Cadance.
“Twiliiiiiiiight.”
“Yes Cadance?” Cadence wasn't sure how but Twilight had mastered the sarcastic thought which only further irked the aroused mare even more.
“Why is our beloved ignoring us, not like she has to pay attention to her pets but usually she would take great joy in playing with her things.” The thought Cadance brought to mind made Twilight stop what she was doing and blush. Images of their usual routine including all the smacks, dirty talk and degrading things her mistress commanded her to do flooded her mind for a moment.
Meanwhile the nightmare clenched her jaw, holding back a smirk, having the presence of mind to at least not outright laugh lest they know she could hear their thoughts.
“Well regardless we are done this side, why don't we finish cleaning our beloved first before we worry about anything else hmmm?”
“Augh, fine.” Cadance’s indignant mental tone would have annoyed Twilight as it smacked of insubordination but even she had to admit that the heat of her own arousal was becoming distracting.
With thoughts of all the things her mistress had made her do over the past years still fresh in her thoughts, Twilight could not help but let her mind run down similar avenues as Cadance’s currently was. She inhaled sharply through her nose, savoring the aroma of power her mistress exuded at all times. So powerful was the corrupted alicorn that the very air around her became tinged with her essence. Even now after that same essence had infused her being Twilight still craved it's proximity. It was intoxicating to remember the moment she and the night queen had first become so intimately close. Then the smell was gone and the fresh scent of imported soaps tinged by the faint smell of blood returned to her nose and with it the fresh realization of her duty.
They shuffled awkwardly around their mistress, not daring to look at her unmentionables without permission though Twilight could almost feel Cadance having to stop herself. Their beloved’s gorgeous flanks, and powerful muscled body were mere inches away and were nearly enough to make Twilight tempted. Her perfect tail covering equally as perfect… other things and just below that the most perfect thing in Cadance’s world hung beneath her mistress and right now it was all she could think about. Even that desperate desire was not enough to break the rules and she resisted the siren call of peaking where her eyes were not allowed. Instead she focused herself on breaking out every trick in the book once more, this time on the other side of the most perfect mare in existence.
Twilight quickly went about the task of pulling out the bits of foreign matter wedged within the nightmare’s coat. All the while careful to not pull to hard or too fast without numbing the area first and of course healing the tiny scratch they left behind as she went along. During all of her tender ministrations she could hear Cadance’s husky breathing distracting her.
Twilight just rolled her eyes at Cadance’s just barely audible lust driven panting. Refocusing on the task at hoof, willing the intense desire bleeding through her link with Cadence to become muted background noise. With her coat free of debris and shrapnel Twilight once more went about the task of cleaning every inch of her mistress's’ body diligently and patiently. All the while healing what small cuts and bruises had slipped past Cadance earlier. This side of her mistress's’ body thankfully faired not nearly as poorly as the other and Twilight let out a small sigh of relief when she noticed that their were far less blood marring her perfect coat.
All the while Cadance did her best not to beg for the relief she so desperately needed, forcing herself to learn from Twilight’s steadfast devotion. Focusing all of her energy on touching up Twilight’s healing so it wouldn't even so much as leave behind a mark. Healing cut and bruise alike with practiced ease, having long since gotten use to treating her mistresses’ injuries. Though looking at the cuts and bruises her love had received pained her greatly, failing to heal those injuries would have pained her much worse. Thus she continued on, double and triple checking that every part of her mistress was healed to the very best of her abilities.
Once done she looked over at Twilight who was beginning to blush more and more with each passing second. Cadance quickly realized what was happening and tried to occupy her thoughts with anything other than her mistresses’ perfect body and what she would inevitably end up using a part of that anatomy for later. Which only drove the heat to swell and a nervous unease overtook her as she rubbed her back legs together fruitlessly.
Both mares exchanged a look before glancing up at their mistress who had not so much as moved or flinched during their tender ministrations. Her head was turned away and down slightly, looking into the water of the bath seemingly deep in concentration. Twilight turned back to Cadance a worried look on her face, as if asking what she should do. Cadence however only shrugged in response.
“What do you think is bothering our love?”
“I don't know Cadance but i'm scared, what if my plan failed and she is disappointed in me. Or what if she doesn't want me anymore because I can't give her a-.” The thoughts suddenly stopped and Cadance could see the beginning of a tear form in the younger mare’s eye.
“Hush now dear if she was disappointed in you she would say something, now before you implode from all your worrying why don't you just ask her?” Cadance gestured with her nose towards the object of their shared adoration before going back to gently running a cloth across the now pristine coat in front of her.
Twilight shuffled slightly in the water of the bath, splashing lightly. Cadance rolled her eyes as the mare fidgeted. “What is it dear?”
“Why don't you ask her? You're the mother of her future child and clearly her favorite.”
Cadance nearly spoke aloud before realizing what she was doing, instead she dropped her washcloth back into the soapy water all around them and squeezed it tightly while Twilight watched.
“You are the favorite, she has made your flesh her flesh. Do not think just because I carry her unborn child that I am the favorite. If she could put a child in you she would have already, you know that” Cadance paused, a sense of nervousness bleeding through the link. “Besides, I have had others you have only ever had her. What you two have is special and as soon as you have matured she will give you the greatest gift she could bestow upon us lowly pets.”
“Don't say that Cadence! We are equals in her service and I know for a fact she appreciates you despite your past experiences!”
All the while the two argued on who to ask her first, Midnight Moon stood in rapt attention, listening to their conversation. Healing her own magic had turned out to not be the momentous task she had originally thought it was. Evidently that damnable tirek had not torn out nearly as much power as he first claimed to have. Now done she stood silently, wondering to herself if a vacation was in order to properly thank her mares for their continued service. Their devotion was natural though, she thought. She was a goddess and though they held the spark of divinity she was a true divine and their love for her came as easily as the wind but… something about that thought didn't ring true, which only befuddled the nightmare even more.
She glanced down at her reflection in a calm patch of water beneath her, looking over her features in quiet contemplation. Had she changed? Truly this time? These past years she had eased away from many of the hard line stances she had taken yes but all of those things had been born of ideas from a thousand years ago and had no place in this modern land. She ruminated on this change for awhile until the argument between her mares died down and the night queen decided, at least for now that the changes were fine and ultimately for the better.
Meanwhile Twilight’s last argument was soundly defeated, making her bristle at the realization. “Even if she did think of me as her favorite, what do I say? ‘Hey mistress why so glum?’”
“Just say, ‘my love it pains me to see you so distant, is there anything your pets could do to assuage you of any worries?’” Even Cadance’s thoughts seemed to ooze love and kindness and Twilight had to agree that was a nice way of putting it. Twilight took one last glance at Cadence as she gently spread water across their mistresses’ wings, Twilight took a breath and tore her eyes away from her mistress's’ wet coat clinging to her powerful body.
“My love, it pains me deeply to see you so distant, have we done something wrong?” Twilight asked timidly, unconsciously making herself smaller as she spoke.
It took a second but Midnight Moon turned her head and sighed. Her dark dragon like eyes boring into the smaller mare who only cowered moreso under the scrutiny. Then without speaking turned her whole body and looked her mares in the eye. “You may clean my face and hair now.”
Cadance and Twilight turned to share a look before both burst out into an enormous smile mirrored across both faces. That smile grew and grew until they both shared a squeal of excitement. Never before had their mistress allowed them to touch her there, nor had she allowed either of them the honor of doing her hair, having done that herself in private since before either of them knew her personally.
The sheer amount of enthusiasm her mares displayed drew a smile to the nightmare’s lips. “Do a good job and I might just put you two in charge of doing my mane in the morning.” the night queen added, as an afterthought.
Cadance’s face lit up and as Twilight leaned forward, unsure of where to start she was suddenly overtaken by the glow of Cadance’s magic and forced to look her counterpart in the eye. Hooves suddenly shot up to Twilight’s face holding her there as Cadance launched into a lecture. “Twilight Sparkle, this is the most important mission you have ever faced in your short life and I expect the utmost best from you.” Twilight nodded back sternly. “You must wash our mistresses’ beautiful, enchanting, perfect face while I tend to her most amazing mane. Are you prepared to accept this mission?”
The nightmare meanwhile was glad the plan was working exactly the way she had assumed it would, with Cadence's love of hair and decisive nature overriding Twilight’s more timid one. The nightmare turned her head to the side to better allow her pet to work with her damaged and temporarily not aetherial mane.
Twilight’s lips drew thin and she nodded gravely before spinning back around to reveal a now smiling face. The nightmare meanwhile just smiled to herself, amused by the whole scene playing out before her and wondering not for the first time where Cadance’s love of hair came from. However Twilight’s tentative approach and trembling lip drew her from those musings.
“Come closer my pet,” Bid the nightmare.
Obediently Twilight stepped forward without hesitation, her eyes scanning the face before her and finding not a single hint of damage. Strange, she had suffered shrapnel damage across the rest of her body and judging from the way it impacted both sides of her body it must have been two blasts or one giant one…
Instead of any damage or pockmarks of shrapnel just those two shimmering orbs of night and the face of the mare she loved look back at her. However those eyes betrayed concern and her lips were drawn tight as if in pain or deep concentration. It was then twilight noticed the faintest shimmer around her love’s horn, it was hardly noticeable and to her trained mind it indicated that Midnight was holding a spell, but what spell and why? She opened her mouth to ask but a slight shimmer of magic wrapped around Twilight’s muzzle and a firm glare filled her vision.
Terror thundered through Twilight’s body and half of her mind screamed to run away while the other half demanded she cower and beg for forgiveness, but those eyes, those beautiful and terrible orbs softened and a hoof pressed against the lips Twilight dreamed of kissing, making a gentle shush sound. Her love’s eyes tilted up and to the right at Cadence, who was fussing and mumbling to herself trying to untangle the mess of hair and blood and other things that the nightmare’s mane had become entangled and besmirched by.
This time it was understanding that flooded through Twilight making her whole body relax. Her mistress wanted her to be quiet and to hide something from Cadence. If Twilight had to guess, probably so that way she didn't worry about something, what with the baby and all but what would Cadance have to worry abo-. The thought died the instant the faint glimmer surrounding the nightmare’s horn died completely, unveiling a hideously scarred and bloody mess where her perfect face had been a moment before.
Her eyelids were nearly entirely torn off, her eyes were relatively undamaged by a strange stroke of luck but were still bloodshot and bore a few flecks of something stuck in them. Marring the teal coloration of those beautiful draconic eyes that bore into the soul of anyone she looked at. Her lips were nearly entirely torn away and her fangs were clearly visible through the holes in her cheeks, burned flesh covered every other inch of the nightmare’s face making the already terrified Twilight wince at the sight.
A scream erupted in Twilight’s throat and threatened to spill out of her lips but the look in those lidless eyes was enough to draw her back to reality. She had a job to do, a duty she would never shirk from and a love that would last eternity. This was momentary and if she did this properly than it would also be painless. She nodded gravely to the bloody and deformed mare in front of her and lit her horn, all the while doing her best not to scream her thoughts so loudly that Cadance could pick them up through her mane emergency filled haze.
Despite Cadance being the more skilled healer her concentration was more easily broken and the nightmare and Twilight both knew that this would take immense concentration and precision. Understanding passed between them and Twilight instantly lit her horn, her thoughts running through all the necessary formulae in the instant it took to gather the power necessary to cast her spell. First was antiseptic, Twilight could feel that a similar spell had already been cast but it was fading fast. Next was a regeneration spell that would boost the body’s response and hopefully stop any scar tissue from forming. After that she focused her being into a series of targeted healing and regeneration spells that would do the bulk of the regrowth.
Already the nightmare’s flesh twisted and contorted as her body went into overdrive in order to repair the worst of the damage. Eyelids slowly slipped into place and were tested once then twice. Her mistress gave no sign of failure so Twilight assumed the opposite. With that done she took great care to dab the burnt flesh gently as she worked another targeted healing spell, pouring on tons of her own power to make the process faster and more complete. Making up for any of her shortcomings when it came to experience in brute force. Normally a unicorn or alicorn could not accomplish much with such a tactic but twilight’s magical aptitude put her well beyond a normal unicorn and although she had yet to mature she was already reaching beyond alicorn levels of magical power. Add on top of all of that the fact she hadn't had a reason to cast anything more complicated than a levitation spell in the last two weeks and she had more than enough power to spare.
She looked over her patient, while panting softly. Funny, she didn't remember when she had started to pant but it hardly mattered. Midnight Moon had a soft smile on her face and seemed pleased with her so far. Twilight’s heart fluttered in her chest, but she did not allow it to break her concentration. She worked the small washcloth across the now flaking flesh and skin, wiping away the dead parts and gently patting the new that grew behind it with reverence.
With her face nearly completely healed save for the last patch of fur that was quickly knitting itself together Twilight smiled and nodded her head lightly. The nightmare took the hint and looked down at a calm patch of water before with a flick of her magic she turned it into a perfect mirror. The face that looked back at Midnight was the same one she had seen this morning, before she engaged Tirek in combat and nearly had that same face blown off. Glad for the pain to be gone and her face to be restored she looked back over at the trembling Twilight standing there shuffling awkwardly. The nightmare took an extra few seconds to further analyze her features before nodding once and looking over at Twilight.
“Good work slave, I think you deserve a reward. Don't you?” the nightmare asked with no small hint of amusement.
Twilight shook her head. “I am yours to use as you see fit, I deserve nothing for doing my duty.”
The nightmare’s smile grew. “Then I believe you do, come closer.”
Twilight took a hesitant step forward. “Closer.” Then another. “Perfect.”
Apparently satisfied the nightmare leaned forward and suddenly pressed her lips against Twilight’s. The roughness of the kiss quickly bled away as the newly formed flesh connected properly to the proper nerve endings. Meanwhile Cadance groaned in pleasure, the second hand enjoyment of the sudden kiss almost making her stop brushing mid stroke. She quickly turned her attention back down to the last bit of misbehaving hair, willing the distraction out of her mind.
Meanwhile Twilight was in heaven, she could count on all four of her hooves how many times her mistress had allowed her such an honor as this and the rest of that train of thought fell away the moment she felt her mistress press her tongue against Twilight’s lips. Who obediently opened her lips and allowed the mare of her dreams to slide into her mouth. Twilight knew what her mistress liked and instantly set about doing just that. Rubbing and caressing Midnight Moon’s tongue with her own but never pressing or forcing it, taking a purely subservient role the entire time.
Cadance turned her head away from the scene though she could not shake the mental images and girlish screaming of Twilight’s thoughts in her head. She did her best to ignore it and focused on her job but the kiss had grown far more intense and Cadance could all but feel her mistress's tongue in her own mouth with how intimately Twilight was thinking of it. She ran the brush one last time through the last of the mane in her hooves before giving up and tossing the brush aside.
A soft splash drew Cadance’s attention and she looked down at the water to see what would have fallen only to realize too late what she had done. There before her eyes lay the instrument that had put the baby in her belly and the fire in her lions. She had gazed upon the most private part of her mistress without her permission. Her mind reeled in panic and she took a splashing step back without thinking.
The last time she had broken the rules her mistress had ordered no less than twenty lashings and no sex for a month. Though she was in a really good mood recently. Cadence shook her head, either way she was in for a long night.
